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  1. Stackups
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  4. Virtual Machine Platforms And Containers
  5. Docker vs containerd

Docker vs containerd

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Docker
Docker
Stacks194.2K
Followers143.8K
Votes3.9K
containerd
containerd
Stacks81
Followers140
Votes5

Docker vs containerd: What are the differences?

Introduction

This Markdown code presents the key differences between Docker and containerd for use in a website.

  1. Docker: Platform for Building, Running, and Managing Containers: Docker is a powerful platform that allows users to build, run, and manage containers. It provides a comprehensive set of tools, including a command-line interface (CLI) and a graphical user interface (GUI), making it easy to create and deploy containers.

  2. Containerd: Container Runtime and Core Building Block: containerd, on the other hand, is a container runtime and core building block for container platforms. It is designed to be simple and focused, providing essential functionality to manage the lifecycle of containers. Unlike Docker, containerd does not include advanced features such as the Docker CLI or GUI.

  3. Different Levels of Abstraction: Docker operates at a higher level of abstraction compared to containerd. Docker provides a complete container platform that includes not only the container runtime but also additional features like orchestration, networking, and storage management. containerd, on the other hand, focuses solely on the container runtime, leaving other functionalities to be handled by complementary tools or platforms.

  4. Community and Ecosystem: Docker has a vibrant community and a robust ecosystem built around it. It enjoys widespread popularity and has a vast array of third-party tools and integrations available. containerd, although gaining popularity, does not have the same level of community support or as extensive an ecosystem as Docker.

  5. Compatibility with Docker: Docker and containerd are not mutually exclusive but instead can work together. containerd is designed to be compatible with the Docker API, allowing users to run Docker images and containers using containerd as the underlying runtime. This compatibility makes it easy to transition from using Docker to adopting containerd.

  6. Focus and Use Case: Docker is well-suited for developers and organizations looking for a comprehensive container platform that includes a variety of features and tools. On the other hand, containerd is a more lightweight and focused option, suitable for users who only require the essential functionalities of a container runtime without the additional features provided by Docker.

In summary, Docker is a comprehensive container platform with advanced features and a vibrant ecosystem, whereas containerd is a lightweight container runtime focused on providing essential functionalities. They can be used together, and the choice between them depends on the specific requirements and use case of the user or organization.

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Advice on Docker, containerd

Florian
Florian

IT DevOp at Agitos GmbH

Oct 22, 2019

Decided

lxd/lxc and Docker aren't congruent so this comparison needs a more detailed look; but in short I can say: the lxd-integrated administration of storage including zfs with its snapshot capabilities as well as the system container (multi-process) approach of lxc vs. the limited single-process container approach of Docker is the main reason I chose lxd over Docker.

482k views482k
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Detailed Comparison

Docker
Docker
containerd
containerd

The Docker Platform is the industry-leading container platform for continuous, high-velocity innovation, enabling organizations to seamlessly build and share any application — from legacy to what comes next — and securely run them anywhere

An industry-standard container runtime with an emphasis on simplicity, robustness, and portability

Integrated developer tools; open, portable images; shareable, reusable apps; framework-aware builds; standardized templates; multi-environment support; remote registry management; simple setup for Docker and Kubernetes; certified Kubernetes; application templates; enterprise controls; secure software supply chain; industry-leading container runtime; image scanning; access controls; image signing; caching and mirroring; image lifecycle; policy-based image promotion
OCI Image Spec support; OCI Runtime Spec support (aka runC); Image push and pull support; Container runtime and lifecycle support; Network primitives for creation, modification, and deletion of interfaces; Multi-tenant supported with CAS storage for global images; Management of network namespaces containers to join existing namespaces
Statistics
Stacks
194.2K
Stacks
81
Followers
143.8K
Followers
140
Votes
3.9K
Votes
5
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 823
    Rapid integration and build up
  • 692
    Isolation
  • 521
    Open source
  • 505
    Testa­bil­i­ty and re­pro­ducibil­i­ty
  • 460
    Lightweight
Cons
  • 8
    New versions == broken features
  • 6
    Unreliable networking
  • 6
    Documentation not always in sync
  • 4
    Moves quickly
  • 3
    Not Secure
Pros
  • 3
    No Need for docker shim
  • 2
    Supports Kubernetes version greater than 1.21
  • 0
    No kubernetes support after 1.22
  • 0
    Needs docker shim to work on kubernetes
Integrations
Java
Java
Docker Compose
Docker Compose
VirtualBox
VirtualBox
Linux
Linux
Amazon EC2 Container Service
Amazon EC2 Container Service
Docker Swarm
Docker Swarm
boot2docker
boot2docker
Kubernetes
Kubernetes
Docker Machine
Docker Machine
Vagrant
Vagrant
No integrations available

What are some alternatives to Docker, containerd?

Kubernetes

Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers. It handles scheduling onto nodes in a compute cluster and actively manages workloads to ensure that their state matches the users declared intentions.

Rancher

Rancher

Rancher is an open source container management platform that includes full distributions of Kubernetes, Apache Mesos and Docker Swarm, and makes it simple to operate container clusters on any cloud or infrastructure platform.

Docker Compose

Docker Compose

With Compose, you define a multi-container application in a single file, then spin your application up in a single command which does everything that needs to be done to get it running.

Docker Swarm

Docker Swarm

Swarm serves the standard Docker API, so any tool which already communicates with a Docker daemon can use Swarm to transparently scale to multiple hosts: Dokku, Compose, Krane, Deis, DockerUI, Shipyard, Drone, Jenkins... and, of course, the Docker client itself.

Tutum

Tutum

Tutum lets developers easily manage and run lightweight, portable, self-sufficient containers from any application. AWS-like control, Heroku-like ease. The same container that a developer builds and tests on a laptop can run at scale in Tutum.

Portainer

Portainer

It is a universal container management tool. It works with Kubernetes, Docker, Docker Swarm and Azure ACI. It allows you to manage containers without needing to know platform-specific code.

LXD

LXD

LXD isn't a rewrite of LXC, in fact it's building on top of LXC to provide a new, better user experience. Under the hood, LXD uses LXC through liblxc and its Go binding to create and manage the containers. It's basically an alternative to LXC's tools and distribution template system with the added features that come from being controllable over the network.

Codefresh

Codefresh

Automate and parallelize testing. Codefresh allows teams to spin up on-demand compositions to run unit and integration tests as part of the continuous integration process. Jenkins integration allows more complex pipelines.

LXC

LXC

LXC is a userspace interface for the Linux kernel containment features. Through a powerful API and simple tools, it lets Linux users easily create and manage system or application containers.

CAST.AI

CAST.AI

It is an AI-driven cloud optimization platform for Kubernetes. Instantly cut your cloud bill, prevent downtime, and 10X the power of DevOps.

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